The camera expands the scope of R $ 600 emergency aid

The Chamber approved, this Thursday (4/16), the proposal that extends the scope of R $ 600 emergency aid to informal workers during the new coronavirus pandemic. The rapporteur, MP Cezinha de Madureira (PSD-SP), eliminated the changes envisaged by the Senate, which made access to the Continuous Pricing Benefit (PCB) more flexible and created a program to encourage the maintenance of formal jobs.

The approved text includes 20 categories in the list of workers entitled to emergency assistance. These include app drivers, door-to-door vendors, beauticians, truckers, family farmers, those working in the solidarity economy, and artisanal fishermen who don’t receive closed insurance. The government estimates the impact of the changes at R $ 10 billion, which will benefit another 16 million people.

In total, there will be 70 million beneficiaries. With the new text, they will also be able to receive the three R $ 600 monthly payments from adolescents and informal workers who, in 2018, had an income of more than R $ 28.6 thousand, excluded from the original proposal. Single fathers have the right to double the amount, R $ 1.2 thousand, the same rule adopted for mothers who are heads of household and mothers over 18 years of age.

The text also guarantees that the payment of the Student Financing Fund (Fies) fees will be suspended for a period of two to four months, as proposed by the Senate. The government will also not be able to reduce pensions, pensions and PCBs during the period of public calamity, unless it is in the event of death.

As the matter is changed, it must return to the Senate, for the changes to be evaluated and approved by the first House. Then, with the support of the senators, the proposal would go to the health of President Jair Bolsonaro. The leader of the government in the Chamber, Major Vitor Hugo (PSL-GO), said “to be sure that the expansion will meet the needs of the country.”

Excluded

The House withdrew two articles included by the Senate. The first creates an employment aid program. The senators ‘idea was to authorize the government to pay part of the workers’ wages (up to the limit of three minimums), during the state of public calamity, to avoid being fired when the pandemic ends. The proposal would cost R $ 114 billion, according to the calculations of the economic team.

The discussion on formal workers will be limited to Provisional Measure (MP) 936, which creates the Emergency Income and Maintenance Maintenance Program. The proposal allows reducing wages and working hours during the crisis and should be based next week, according to the president of the Chamber, Rodrigo Maia (DEM-RJ).

The change in the BPC criteria will not be included because the Federal Supreme Court (STF) has already issued a court order prohibiting the expansion of the group of beneficiaries, since there is no provision in the Budget. “This is a permanent problem and we are now focusing on urgent matters,” Maia justified earlier this Thursday.